When did the SEC start this decline? Is it really Saban’s fault?

Yep. Other schools became jelaous of Saban's success and looked to make the next big hire that would beat Saban. And now, you have a conference with coordinators and unproven coaches with alotta people going down in flames at their schools again

For Alabama to have gotten as big as it did it means their rivals didn't show up and do their jobs when it mattered. I put the blame squarely on Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU.

The Arkansas LSU game is a coin toss because we always show up.

There really is no secret to what caused the decline and why it happened. Ultimately government employees lacking the basic skills for hiring employees. The formula for hiring good employees is really no secret:

1) Hiring a coach with the same goals/values as the AD/administration.
2)Extending trust instead of micromanaging.
3)Clear expectations.
4)Accountability - Response to mistakes
5)Competency

And ultimately 6) delivering results. When you violate 4 out of 5 in your hire, you should not be surprised when the coach doesn't deliver results.

The SEC lost Meyers, Petrino, Spurrier, Nutt(Arkansas) and Miles declined.

Chizik's firing had nothing to do with Saban. Chizik was fired for going 0-8 in the SEC. He would have been fired right after the IB even if he somehow managed to win that game.

For whatever reason he decided after year 3 that he wanted a pro-style offense without realizing that he didn't have the players to run a pro-style offense. Malzhan came back the next year and took us to the NC game.

Chiz hired Scot Loeffler. That guy is terrible. He cost Chizik his job then went to VT and ended Beamer's career. Then somehow this week he beat the shite out of Charles Kelly's defense with all 2-star players.